Sunday, January 17, 2016

Michelle Yeh, a former science teacher at San Pedro High School, was sentenced in Long Beach Superior Court to state prison after pleading no contest to multiple counts of sexual offenses.

Yeh, 29, was accused of engaging in unlawful sexual acts with some of her male students at the school. Yeh was hired as a substitute teacher in February and evidence reportedly indicated that she began to court four students shortly thereafter.

The government contended that Yeh enticed the young boys in her class with promises, gifts, trips, meals, and outings to the movies and Disneyland in exchange for inappropriate romantic or sexual favors.

Yeh was arrested in July 2015 and a preliminary hearing to determine if there was probable cause to charge Yeh was held in November.

If Yeh had not reached an agreement with the prosecutor’s office and instead elected to have a trial, Yeh could have faced up to 9 years in prison if convicted of charges for statutory rape, lewd acts on a child, annoying a child, and violating a court order.

Instead, Yeh pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced for 3 years and 8 months in state prison. However, Yeh will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Deciding whether to enter into a plea agreement or pursue a trial is a significant decision and requires the guidance and expertise of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Ronald G. Brower is a criminal defense attorney in Orange County, California. His practice focuses on defending individuals charged with a range of criminal charges, including rape and other sexual offenses.

If you are being investigated, have been arrested or are charged with a crime, contact a criminal defense attorney to protect your constitutional rights.The Law Office of Ronald G. Brower can be reached at 714-997-4400.